Apparatus for use in the heat treatment of metal



Jan, 6. 1925.

H. B. EATON APPARATUS FOR USE IN TH HEAT TREATMENT OF METAL e Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 22, 1922 Jan, 6, 1925.

H. B. EATON APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE HEAT TREATMENT 0 F METAL Filed March 22, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 J u k wm n E \W o o o o o wfi W O s\ O o N V o W% Jo |QQ\ 0 I10 l :Hl Huh L 0 0 A v \M k "O O .O 9 N\ Ev n o N 0 3R 0 O O 0 O 1.

1,522,050 H. B. EATON APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE HEAT TREATMENT OF METAL Filed March 22, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 F g- I Jan. 6. 1925. 1,522,050

H. B. EATON APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE HEAT TREATMENT OF METAL Filed March 22, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 faverzi'or'; jfa7"r ya o u hts'aigl S H. B EATON APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE HEAT TREATMENT OF METAL Filed March 22, 1922 6 Sheets-She's} 5 l, 1 I .mL

I i i l I l I l 1 l I Jan, 6. 1925.

H. B. EATON APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE HEAT TREATMENT OF METAL Filed March 22, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Ewen/Z07"; iii/7? 130307 4 Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

HARRY IB. EATON, on mama, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNoR TO U. s. 1301mm & SHUT-TLEUOIVIPANY, or'MANcHEsrER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, a CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

APPARATUS FoR- use IN ran HEAT TREATMENT or METAL.-

Applicatio'n filed March 22, 1922. Serial No. 545,880.

To all whom it may concern p u Be it known that I, HARRY B. EATON, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invent.- ed new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Heat Treatment of Metal, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention concerns hardening and tempering furnaces and relates more p'art1c ularly to means whereby the material to be heattreated may be introduced into the furnace for heating and withdrawn therefrom for quenching without undue exposure of the material to the air, either during its heating or during its transfer from the'furnace to the quenching bath, While at the same time avoiding undue waste .of heat from the furnace during the introduction and withdrawal of the charge,

In the heat treatment of steel for hardening or tempering it,it is necessary to raise it to a temperature at which oxidization of the metal takes place very rapidly if freely exposed to the air. If the period of ex posure is atall prolonged under such circumstances a very substantial amount of metal may be converted into oxide. This action is particularly harmful when the article to be treated is relatively smaller comprises 'parts which are thin or of small diameter,

as for exan'iple, metallic bobbin rings, spring.

washers, etc. In such cases so much of the material may be converted into" oxide that the finished article may be of little commercial value, thus necessitating the making'of the article heavier than desired, originally, so that after hardening, sutficientmetallic steel will remain to provide the desired strength. This practice is wasteful of material and labor, and in many cases is wholly impracticable.

Hardening furnaces of large capacity consume a very considerableamount of heat and when electricity is employed as a heat-- iug agent, it is especially desirable, for the sake of economy in operation, to avoid so" far as practicable, theescape of heat from the heating chamber during the introduction and withdrawal of the charge.

Various types of furnace and apparatus for the heat treatment of steel have heretofore been dev1sed,'s ome of which areautomatic or continuous in operation, but so'far as-is known no serious attempt has been made heretofore to design heat-treating apparatus of a character such as to permit the ready handling. of relatively small articles in large quantities and so arranged as substantial- 1y to lessen the oxidization of the material during the treatment, or to conserve the heat supplied for bringing the material to the desired temperature. c

The object of the present invention is ac cordlngly to provide improved means useful 1n association with furnaces of usual construction for introducing the charge of material to' be treated into the furnace in a manner permitting the rapid and uniform heating thereof and for withdrawing it quickly therefrom While avoiding the exposure of the heated charge to unlimited amounts of atmospheric oxygen, either during the heating thereof or'jin its transfer to the quenchingbath, and at the same time reducing the 'losS Ofheat from the furnace to a minimum during the operation;

In the attainment of the above object, an arrangement of partsfsuch as is shown in the accompanying drawings may be Qmploved, such arrangement Well exemplifying the various embodiments of means which might be employed for the purpose.

In such drawings fz- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a furnace having the apparatus of the present invention applied" thereto;

Figure 2 is a cross section on a line a'b of Fig. 1, but to larger scale, .showingtlie charging and dischargingapparatus in positionfo r receiving a charge of material;

Flgure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in position for dumping the heated material Figure 4 is a cross section to large scale on the line cd of Fig. 1, showing the furnace construction; I

Figure 5 is a transverse cross section on a line such as e.- f of Fig. 1, showing certain paratus and the controlling mechanism therefor showing one end only of the furnace and drawn to large scale;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross section, partly in elevation, illustrating a quenching tank employed in connection with the apparatus, and automatic mechanism for removing the quenched material from such tank;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross section on the line r-s of Fig. 7, and showing the furnace and charging and discharging apparatus in broken lines;

Figure 9 is a cross section on the line g7z of Fig. 7 but to larger scale;

Figure 10 is a similar cross section on the line m-n of Figure 7;

Figure '11 is a fragmentary front elevation of a switchboard having switches there on for controlling certain of the appliances herein disclosed;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary cross section on the line 0p of Fig. 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary cross section on the line a'3 of Fig. 5; and

Figure 14 is a top plan View of a guard for the charge receptacle, together with means for imparting movement thereto; the charge receptacle, with the guide means therefor, being omitted, and a portion of the guard being broken away.

Referring to the drawings a furnace is indicated at 1, the furnace herein illustrated being typical of any desired type of furnace which may be found useful in carrying the hardening operation into effect. This furnace rests upon the piers 2, 3, and comprises the outer metallic caslng 4 havmg the bottom wall 19 and the inner refractory lining 5,

the lining being separated from the outer casing, and the space therebetween being filled with suitable heat insulating material 6, such for example, as asbestos, mineral wool or the like. The heating chamber 7 extends longitudinally of the furnace and is provided with a plurality of insulating supports 8 having wound thereon electrical resistance coils 9, such coils being suitably connected to bus-bars 10, mounted upon insulating brackets such as 11 upon the outer wall of the furnace. If desired this bar may be enclosed by a protecting casing 12. The several supports 8 are of such a form as to provide an inner chamber 13 of a size suitable to admit the receiver for the charge to be heated. Extending along the bottom of this inner chamber is a pair of guide rails 14, 15, respectively or equivalent devices, spaced apart to provide a guide slot 16, These rails, if desired, may have downwardly extending members such as 17 rigidly secured in place in any desired manner and preferably having heat insulating material 21. for example asbestos or mineral wool interposed between them.

Transverse brace rods 20 may be employed for holding the upper portions of the members 17 in properly spaced relation,'and be tween the members 17 insulating material such as asbestos or mineral wool, indicated at 21, may be employed.

The end wall 22 of the furnace is provided with a charging opening 22 with. which cooperates a sliding door 23 suitably guided by means of flanged members such as 24. To this door is secured the lower end of the cable 25, which passes over a pulley 26, thence longitudinally of the apparatus to a pulley 27 mounted at the upper end of a switchboard 28, and thence downwardly along the face of the latter, such cable being provided with a hand grip 29 at a suitable point whereby the cable may be manipulated to raise the door of the furnace to permit the entrance or exit of a charge.

Associated with the furnace, and arranged in longitudinal alignment therewith, and in a position to hood the door thereof, is the charging and discharging housing or casing 30. This housing or casing is of generally rectangular cross section, com prising the side wall 31, top wall 32, and the opposite side wall 33 (the latter having its lower portion 34 inclined downwardly), and having a discharge opening 35 extending between the lower edge of the wall 31 and the lower edge of the inclined wall member 34. Hinged to the lower edge of the latter, at the point 36 is a door 37 which normally occupies the position indicated in Fig. 2, thus completely closing such dis charge opening and constituting the bottom wall of the housing. The walls of this housing, with the exception of such bottom wall, and the closure for a receiving opening, hereinafter described, preferably consist ofinner and outer metallic casings such as 38, 39, spaced apart and insulated from one another by a packing of heat insulating material 40. This material may be asbestos fibre, mineral wool, or any other desired heat insulating and heat resistant medium. This housing 30 may be secured at one end directly to the end wall 22 of the furnace and at its opposite end may be supported upon legs such as 41 or in any other desired manner. The upper wall 32 of this'housing is provided with a receiving opening of elongate form extending longitudinally of the housing substantially from one end to the other thereof. The edges ofthe top wall 32, at opposite sides of this opening, are inclined downwardly and inwardly as indicated at 42, and to the lower edges of such opening, upon opposite sides thereof, are hingeddoors 44, These doors are so arranged that when in closed position, as shown in Fig. 3 they overlap somewhat, thereby completely closlit) ing the opening and preventing the escape of heated gases therethrough. When in closed position, these doors, With the inclined edges a2, form a depression, cavity or recess 43 in Which-material to betreated may be piled.

Secured to the wall 32 along the edges of the receiving opening are'brac-kets such as &6 and i9, and in said brackets are-journaled rods 48 and 47, respectively. To these rods, at intervals, are secured arms 50-Wl1l0l1 in turn are connected to the respectivedoors 44, 45 by-means of links'52, 53 respectively. The ends of the rods 48 and 47, extend beyond the end wall 5% of the housing .30, and to the rod i8 is secured an actuating' lever 55. To the rod 47 is secured a-lever arm 56 which is connected by means of a link 57 to a lever arm 58- a-lsosecured to the rod l8. The'link 57 is connected to the arm 56 by means of a pin engaging a slot 59 in such arm and the parts are so arranged that upon actuation of the lever therods 48 and 47 are rotatedsimultaneously, but in opposite directions. Any

suitable means may beemployed for-holding the lever 55 in desired position of a dj ustment.

Journaled in a bracket-60 secured to the end Wall 32 of the furnace and be-low the door, therein, is one 'endof a shaft '61, the opposite end of such shaft being journaled in a bracket-62 secured to the end iva ll5 r=of the housing 30. 'lTo the end'of the shaft-61 Where it extends beyond the bracket (-32 issecured an arm 6l -ending=in an abrupt shoulder at69. To the side of this arm a-lever 63 is secured, forming a continuation of the arm-61, such leverbeing provided With an actuating-handle64 at-its outerend. A latch lever 65 is pivotally secured atthe point 66 to a bracket member 67 secured to the housing 30, such latch lever having a latch shoulder 68 engageable With the shoulder 69 of' the arm 61 A spring 70 is normallyoperative to hold the latch shoulder 68in engage ment with such shoulder whereby to hold the.

lever arm '63 in the position shown in 5 and with the shaft 61-occupying the position indicated in Fig. 2. I

A series of brackets 71 -aresecured at spaced interv alsto the underside of the shaft 61,- such bracketsh-aving members extending upwardly and in=divergent relation upon'opposi-te sides of the'shaft. Resting upon and in recesses :in :the upper: side of this shaft is a trough-shaped guard member comprising the bottom Wall 72 and:the=di-' vergent side Walls 7 3, 74, respectively. iThe divergent members of the brackets 71. arese-- cured. asbymeans of rivets,to the.diverg-- ing side Walls of this trough-shaped guard. member. Such guard member.extendssubstantially from one end of theahousingfziOtto the other and securedto the upper surface:

of thB bOttOIH wall :72 thereofare substantially parallel rails 75, 76, theserails'being I spaced to provide a guideslot' 77. The. rails 75, 76, are preferablyof channel for-m as indicated in Fig. 2 for a purpose eherelnafter --to be described. Slida'bly engaging the slot 77 is arectangulai' bar 78. "This bar and such ofthe other parts as may be ex posed to the heat of. the furnace, maybe ,of nichrome. or some similar ;heat .iesistant material. Secured to the bar"7.8 is .a charge holding receptacle or receiver/79, such receptacle comprising the bottom .Wall and the divergent side-walls 81,82. Tliei-receptable is preferably spaced somewhat from the guard member previously described, and is retained in proper position when theshaft 61 is rocked,-as seen in Fig. 3, ,byameanszof straps 79 extending over the receptacle and secured to: the opposite. edges of the guard device. This receptacle is of larger surface area and relatively shallow inorder that the charge of material placed therein may rapidly be heated when introduced (into tllGlfLlfnace. The-arrangement of theshaft 6l'and the guide rails 75; 76, is such that-wheiiithe parts occupy a position suclras indicated in Fig. 2, the slot 77 between such; rails aligns with the slot-:16 between the rails :14, ,15 Within the furnace .lieating chamber so that the bar 78 with the charge receiver 79. m ay readily he slid into the furnace through the door 22. :To .lthe vall' 7 ofthe .guardimeinber, lugs 88 are sec-urechwto Whichiare connected the upper ends of tension springsSi, the lower'endsof Whicharesecuned tolinks pivotally connected to ibracketsfifi secured to the :door 37,the. parts bieing so, arranged that upon rocking of the zshaftt6l .to bring the parts from the positionof Fig.- 3. to that of Fig.2,1this.springwillbetensioned, therethereupon an electric motor 88-,having a shaft:89 provided With. a wormug9O meshing With a WOI'HI wheele9l upon :a. shaft :92. Mounted upon this shaft is azdrunl's93bver Which passes acable'94 rthe upper .run ,95 of \vhiclrissec-ured"to a bracket Hmounted upon theouter endfofithe hbar 78, zSLlC-ll GIld projecting .out-.through ,a suitable opening in ithe end Wall 54:4,.Of ;the housing. The lower run 7:196 lot! the cable .is secured ,at .97 .to a floating pulley :98. second cable p assed about the ;1) i lley 98. such cable comprisingithe i 9.; M116 spectively, which pass about a pairiof puleysisuch as 1101,, secured;to;the under side of the guard member at that .endfthereof adjacent to the furnace door. These runs 99, 100 of the cable then pass forwardly in the channels of rails 76, respectively, toward the end 54 of the housing 30 and are secured as indicated at the points 102, 103 respectively to the bracket upon the end of the rod or bar 78. \Vith the parts as thus arranged, rotation of the motor driven drum 93 in either direction serves to impart movement to the bar 78 in one direction or the other in accordance with the direction of movement of the drum.

Pivotally mounted upon the front face of the switchboard are a pair of knife switches 1041, 105 having suitable operating handles, one of such switches serving to set the m0- tor in rotation in one direction and the other of such switches acting to reverse the motor. A bar 106 is suitably guided, as by means of brackets 107, for vertical movement along the face of the switchboard, such bar being provided with a weight 108 at its lower end if desired. This bar is furnished with a pair of lugs 109, 110, respectively which in certain positions of the bar lie in the path of movement of bracket members such as 105 carried by the respective switches, such lugs serving to prevent closing of the switches when the lugs are thus positioned. Each of the switches is provided with a tail member 110, 111 respectively, such members being provided with slots 112, 113. The upper and lower runs 95 and 96 of the cable 91 which passes about the drum 93, extend through the respective slots 112, 113, and to such runs of the cable are secured buttons, as 114, these buttons being of a diameter such that they will not pass through the slots in the tail members of the switches.

At one side of, and somewhat below the casing 30, a quenching tank 115 is arranged, this tank being of the cross section indicated in Fig. 8 and having the sloping side wall 116. This side wall is so positioned that when the door 37 is swung downwardly to open position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8, the lower edge of such door engages the inner surface of the inclined wall 116 of the tank so that the charge of material, in dropping through the discharge opening in the casing 30, is directed into the quenching bath contained within the tank. This tank is provided with an upwardly sloping bottom as inclicated at 117 (Fig. 7), and continuing upwardly in substantial alignment with said bottom is a trough-like structure 118, such structure terminating at a point adjacent to the furnace and substantially above the floor 119 upon which the furnace is set. At the upper end of this trough 118 is arranged a. receptacle 120 into which the material, after hardening, may be delivered. The lower edge of the tank is of curved cross section, as indicated at 121, and the trough 118 is curved correspondingly. These curved portions of the tank and trough serve for the reception and guidance of a series of scraper disks 122 carried by an endless chain 123. This chain is trained over guide sprockets 1241, 125 and 126, and over a drive sprocket 127, the latter receiving its motion from a belt 128 passing about a pulley 128*. The scraper disks 122 are preferably formed with recesses or notches 129 in their edges in order to permit the free escape of oil between the edges of the disks and the trough in which the disks move. The upper run of the endless chain carrying the scraper disks is substantially horizontal and beneath such horizontal run of the chain is arranged a drip trough 130, such trough, if desired, being inclined somewhat toward the sprocket 12a and being provided with a downward continuation 131 which serves to direct oil from the. trough into the tank 115. Beneath the trough 118, which is provided with series of drain openings 132, is arranged a drip trough 133 which is inclined downwardly and delivers oil into the rear end of the tank 115. If desired, steam coils such as 134, 135 may be associated with the trough 118, such coils being supplied with steam through a pipe 136 controlled by a valve 137 and serving 3 to warm the trough 118 so that oil carried upward by the material in its movement from the tank will be heated and made sufficiently thin to drain rapidly from the material.

In the operation of the device described, it being assumed that the furnace door 23 is closed, that the charge receiver has been tipped to the position shown in Fig. 3 to dump the preceding load, and that a fresh charge. of material has been piled in the recess 43 upon the doors 4%, 15, the first step is to tilt the shaft 61 by means of the lever handle 64 whereby to restore the receiver to the position of Fig. 2. In tilting the shaft 61 to the position of Fig. 2 the upward movement of the guard element '74- tensions the spring 8%, thereby closing the door 37. The operator then manipulates the handle 55 to open the doors 4st and 45, thereby dumping the material which has been piled in the recess or depression 4-3 into the charge receiver, which now occupies the position of Fig. 2. The bar 106 occupies the position shown in Fig. 11 when the furnace door 23 is closed, and in this position of the parts it is impossible to throw either of the switches 104, 105. After the dumping of the charge and the closing of the doors a4, 15, the operator pulls down upon the hand grip 29, thereby lifting the furnace door and opening communi cation between the casing 30 and the heating. chamber of the furnace. The movement of the. hand grip 29 permits the bar 106 to -opening the switch.

brackets 105.

the motor is actuated, drawing *upon the 'run 96 of the cable and thereby, through the cable 99, causing the bar 78 to move toward the furnace. The movement of the bar 78 thus causes the charge receiver to enter the furnace, it being noted that by reason of the'conne-ction of-bothcablestothe outer end-of the bar 78, such connection is not subjected to the heat of the furnace 'at any time. lVhen the charge receiver has been properly positioned within the furnace, the button 114 comes into contact with the tail of switch 105 thereby automatically The operator then manipulates the handle 29 to close *t-he furnace *door, restorin g'thebar 106 to the position of Fig. 11 where manipulation of either switch is prevented. During the introduction of the charge receiver into the furnace, the button 114 7 carried by the cable run 95 moves away from the tail of the upper switch, so that closing of such switch is now prevented only by the lu 109 of bar 106. After the charge has remained in the furnace for the proper length of time, the furnace door is again opened, thereby depressing bar 106 and permitting the actuation of switch 10%. Upon closing of the switch, the motor is operated in the reverse direction, thereby drawing directly upon the upper run 95 of the cable and pulling the charge receiver outwardly from the furnace and into the casing 30. At the end of a predetermined movement, the button 11 lcarried by cable run 95, contacts with the tail 110 of the upper switch, thereby throwing the latter out and stop-. ping the motor. The operator now closes the urnace door to preventescape of heat and manipulates the handle '64 for rocking the shaft SLthe'reby simultaneously opening door 37 and dumping the charge from the charge receiver. The charge of heated material passes downwardly (the inclined wall 34; of the housing serving, if need be, to direct the material toward the discharge opening) and directly intof'the tank 115 where it is quenched by an oil bath or other suitable quenching medium. As the ma terial falls to the bottom of the tank, it is scraped therefrom by the constantly moving scrapers 122, moved upwardly While being drained. and dropped into the recepmole 120. Upon dumping the charge rece1ver,"the;pa-rts are imposition for asubsequent'series of operationssuch as above ClGS C11b(l. a

in the-above operation it will be noted that 'thewcharge, after entering t-hecasing 30, is neveirsu-bjecte'd toythe actionof free or unlimited amounts of air during the heatingand quenching of the-same, while it is also to be noted that-the insulated housingor'casing SO servesin large measure, not only toprevent the escape and loss of heat from the furnace door, but to prevent entry of air thereinto. The interior of this casing becomes very hot after -ashort period of operationfso that there is but little drop in temperature of the charge as the {latter ;is removed from the furnace and prior to its dumping through the discharge door of the casing. Under some circumstances, in order to avoid any loss whatsoever in temperature, it mayjbedesirable to supply the casing 30 with heating elements such as employed in the furnace proper, or other heat ng means such as may be found desirable. 'lVhen used for the tempering of relatively small articles such for example as bobbin rings, this device is particularly advantageous in that a relatively large amount of material may readilybe placed in the charge receiver, which is of a supe-rficial area such as to permit exposing all the material to a substantially uniform heat whereby the heating ofthe same is accomplished rapidly and Without fear of overheating some parts of the mass. At the same time, by. PlOVlCllIlgthQ casing 30 and the .guard device immediately below the charge receiver the entire mass of material is protected against drafts or substantial drop in temperature during the removal of the same from the furnace, although such removal may occupy a considerable period of time due to the size of the container, while. the arrangement whereby the entire charge may be dropped instantaneously into the quenching bath assures uniform hardening of the entire mass of material, and at the same time avoids any tendency injuriously to oxidize thethinner portions thereof. lVhile the present improvements have been shown as applied to a furnace of the electrically heated type, it, is contemplatedthat it might well be used in connection with furnaces of other forms and while a spe cilic arrangement hasbeen illustrated herein,

whereby material after hardening is removed from the quenching bath, such arrangement isshown merely by way of exampleof suitable means forperforming su'ch operation. Although specific arrangements have b'eeen shown for moving the charge receiver in and out of the'furnace, it is to be understood that other arrangements might Well be substituted for those herein disclosed, and that various changes and rearrangements: in the parts might be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention and without substantially changing the function of the apparatus.

Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with a furnace structure, a quenching tank, means for conveying a charge from the furnace to such tank, and heat insulated means for enclosing said conveying means during the movement of the charge between the furnace and the quenching tank.

2. Apparatus for use in the charging of furnaces comprising a heat insulated housing having a door at one end for communication with a furnace, said housing having a depression in its upper wall, and movable means normally constituting a floor for such depression.

3. A furnace charging apparatus comprising an elongate, box-like housing having a depression in its upper wall, a pair of normally closed doors hingedly secured to said 7 wall at opposite sides of said depression and constituting a floor therefor, and means for opening said doors.

4. A furnace charging apparatus comprising a housing having insulated walls, a re cess in the thickness of the upper wall thereof, a pair of doors normally constituting the floor of said recess, said doors being hinged to swing downwardly into the housing, and means for simultaneously opening said doors.

5. A furnace charging apparatus compris ing an insulated housing having an elongate recess in the thickness of its wall, a pair of doors hinged at opposite edges of said recess, respectively and normally constituting the floor of the latter, a rotatable 'rod supported adjacent to. each edge of the recess, connections between said rods and the respective doors such that upon rotation of the rods the doors are actuated, and means for imparting simultaneous movement to said rods.

6. A furnace charging apparatus co1nprising a housing having a recess in its upper walls, a pair of doors hinged respectively adjacent to opposite edges of said recess and normally constituting a floor therefor, an actuating lever, and connections between said lever and the respective doors so constructed and arranged that upon actuation of the lever, the doors are simultaneously swung for opening or closing said opening.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a box-like housing having elongate openings in its top and bottom walls, a pair of overlapping doors normally closing the opening inthe upper wall, and a downwardly swinging door normally closing the opening in the lower wall.

8. An apparatus for use in charging and discharging furnaces comprising a housing having a receiving opening in its upper wall, a delivery opening in its lower wall, a downwardly inclined deflecting surface leading to said lower opening, and a door normally closing said opening.

9. A furnace charging and discharging apparatus comprising an elongate housing having a substantially horizontal upper all provided with a receiving opening, an in clined side wall leading to a discharge opening at the bottom thereof, and a door for closing the latter opening.

10. A furnace charging and discharging apparatus comprising an elongate housing of generally rectangular cross section, the lower portion of one of the side walls thereof inclining inwardly toward the opposite wall, and the top wall of said housing having a receiving opening, the housing having a discharge opening at the lower edge of the aforesaid inclined portion of the side wall.

11. An apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having a door for communication with a furnace, a discharge opening at its lower portion, a door for closing said opening, means for controllig the door, and resilient means normally holding said door in closed position. 7

12. An apparatus for use in charging and discharging furnaces comprising a housing having a discharge opening at its lower portion, a door for controlling said opening, an oscill'atable element associated with said housing, and spring means connecting said element with the door whereby normally to hold the latter in closed position.

13. An apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having a discharge opening, a door for closing said opening, an oscillatable charge container within said housing, and means movable in timed relation to the oscillation of said container for opening and closing said door.

14. Apparatus for use in charging and discharging furnaces comprising a housing having a discharge opening therein, a door for controlling said opening, oscillatable charge supporting means within the housing, and connections including a tension spring, interposed between said oscillatable means and the door.

15. An apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having openings at its upper and lower parts respectively, a charge receiver within the housing, and movable means for supporting said receiver, said means being constructed and arranged to permit the introduction of a charge into said receiver through the upper opening, and its discharge from the receiver through the lower opening.

16. A furnace charging and discharging apparatus comprising a housing having a .'discharge opening at its lower portion, a

hinged door for closing said "opening, a tiltable charge receiver Within the housing,

being so constructed and arranged that upon movement of the'receiver from dumping to receiving position, such resilient 'COIITIBCUOIIS ,Will be tension'ed to close the door.

18. An apparatus for use in charging and discharging furnaces comprising a housing having an openi at its lower portion, a

ro'ck'alile shaft insa'id housing, a charge receivcr mounted upon said shaft to rock tliei'eivit l i means for looking said shaft whereby to dump a charge lrom the receiver through the opening, and means for locking the'shaft against movement.

19. An apparatus of the class described comprising a housing, i'oclr'able shalt therein, a c l'i'ar'ge receiver mounted upon said shaft, and a guard device und'elying' said receiver; Q

20. A furnace chargin and discharging apparatus comprising a if discharge opening at its lovver por'tion, a

' charge receiver arranged within said housing, and means for guarding said receiver from drafts-of air from said opening.

21. An apparatus of the class described comprising a charge receiver, and a guard device underlying the same and spaced therefrom, said guard device being fconstrut-ted and arranged to'protect said receiver from drafts oi air.

An apparatus of the class "described comprising a rockable"shaft,a guard de- YICQ secured thereto, supporting 'means mounted upon said guard device, and a charge receiver carried by said supporting means.

23. Apparatus of the class described com prising a rockable shaft, brackets secured thereto, an elongate guard trough resting upon said shaft and secured to said brackets, supporting means mounted "Within said guard trough, and a charge receiver carried by said supporting means.

24. An apparatus of the class -described comprising an elongate guide, a charge re- 'i-eiver movable longitudinally ofsald guide,

and means for supporting said guide to rock about an axis substantially parallel to its length. v.

' 2 An apparatus for use in charging and 'i sing having a discharging furnaces comprising a receiver, an elongate bar secured thereto, means providing a fguide vay for slidably engaging said bar, means for imparting movement to the bar along the guid'eWa-y, and means for supportin said guideway forming means whereby tie lat-termay be rocked about an axis substantially parallel to its len'gtl'i.

26. An apparatus of the class described comprising a receiver, anelongate bar secured thereto, a pair of parallel'guide rails spaced to provide a guideWay for the bar, a rockable shaft, and. means for securing said giiiide rails to said shaft \vhereby'said rails may he rocked about the axis of the shaft.

Ql. An a 'pa-ratus of the class described comprising a 1'0 cliable shaft, a guard trough secured to tlieshaft, a pair "of parallel rails secured Within saidtrough and spaced to provide a guide slot, an elongate bar slifd able within said slot, a charge receiver fixed to saidhar, means for imparting longitudinal sliding movement to'said liar, and means for rocking the shaft. 1

28; An apparatus of the class described comprising a roclrabl'e guard trough, a receiver arranged -Wll7l1l=11 SalCl tIOLIgh and slidablelongitudin'ally tliereof, means-"for rocking the guard lJl'QUgh, and 'means'for pre venting the receiver from falling from the trough upon' rocking of the latter.

' 29. An apparatnspf the classdescri'bed comprising an elongate trough, a pair of spaced "element's extending lengthwise of said trough and forming a guide slot, a

"charge receiver having a member slid'ably engaging said slot means whereby the trough may be rocked, and straps overlying said fch a'rge receiver for preventing escape of during rocking of'the'trough-q 30. In combination," a furnats'e having a heating chambenfiXed. guide inean'swvit'hin said chamber, guidemeans' outside the heating chamber and normally aligning With said fixed guide means, a charge receiver said slidable member from the guide slot having an element 'engage'abl'e ivith the respective gui demeans, and means supporting the guide means outside the furnace so con- 'structed and arranged as to permit moving of 'suchguide means out of alignn'ient With the guide means in the furnace.

'31. In combination with. a furna-ce having 'a heati n'g chamber and a charging door, means providing a guide slot- Within the chamber and extending inwardly from said door, a rockable shaft journalled outside said furnace and substantially in the vertical plane of said guide slot, means carried by said shaft and providing a guide slot normally aligning with said first slot, a charge receiver having an element slidably engageable With the respective slots, and means for rocking said shaft whereby *to dump the contents of the receiver ivhensa id Oil element is in engagement with the guide slot carried by the shaft.

32. In combination with a furnace having a, heating chamber and a door giving access thereto, a pair of spaced guide rails leading inwardly from the door, a rockable support outside said furnace, a pair of spaced guide rails mounted upon said support, means for rocking said support, and means normally retaining said support in a position such as to align its guide rails with those within the furnace.

33. In combination with a furnace having a heating chamber, guide means therein, guide means outside the furnace. normally aligned therewith, a bar engageable with the respective guide means, a charge receiver carried by the bar, and means for imparting longitudinal movement to said bar in either direction at will.

34, In combination with a furnace, having a heating chamber and guide means therein, an elongate bar engageable with said guide means, a charge receiver fixed to said bar, and means engaging one extremity of said bar for imparting longitudinal movement in either direction thereto.

35. In combination with a furnace, a charging apparatus comprising guide means, an elongate bar engaging said guide means, a charge receiver mounted upon said bar, and cable means secured to that end of the bar remote from the furnace for imparting movement to the bar in. either direction.

36. A charging apparatus for furnaces comprising an elongate guide, a bar slidably engaging said guide, a charge. receiver mounted upon said bar, a rotatable drum, a cable passing about said drum and having one end thereof secured to one end of said bar, and means connecting the opposite end of said cable with the bar, the parts being so constructed and arranged that rotation of the drum in either direction will move the bar correspondingly.

37. In combination with a furnace having a door, guide means associated therewith, a bar slidably engageable with the guide means, charge receiving means secured to the bar, a rotatable drum, a cable passing about the drum and having one end thereof secured to that end of the bar remote from the furnace door, a second cable connected to the same end of the. bar and passing about a pulley arranged adjacent to the furnace door, and means for imparting movement from the other end of the firstnamed cable to the second cable.

38. Furnace charging apparatus comprising a slidable bar having a charge receiver mounted thereon, a motor driven drum, a cable passing about the drum and having one end secured to one end of said bar, a second cable having its ends secured to the bar, adjacent'to the aforesaid end thQI-GOf,

and comprising runs extending longitudinally of the bar and at either side thereof, said runs passing respectively over pulleys remote from the. drum, and the central portion of said second cable passing about a floating pulley, and means connecting the last-named pulley to the opposite end of the first-named cable.

39. In combination with a furnace, charging apparatus comprising a charge receiver movable into and out of the furnace, motor means for moving such receiver in one direction, and automatic means for stopping the motor at the end of a predetermined movement of the charge receiver.

40. Furn ce charging means comprising a movable charge receiver, motor means for moving said receiver in either direction, and automatic means for stopping said motor after a. predetermined movement of such charge receiver in either direction.

41. In combination with a furnace, charging apparatus comprising a receptacle slidable into and out of the furnace, a reversible electric motor for moving said receptacle in either direction, switches for controlling said motor, and means actuable in time with the movement of said receptacle for opening one or the other of said switches at the conclusion of a predetermined movement of the receptacle, in either direction respectively.

42. A furnace charging apparatus comprising a slidable receptacle, guide means therefor, a motor actuated drum, a cable passing over said drum for imparting movement to said receptacle, switch means for controlling the. motor, and a member secured to the cable for throwing the switch means to open position after a predetermined movement of the receptacle.

43. An apparatus of the class described comprising a slidable receptacle, a rotatable drum, a reversible motor for actuating the drum, a cable having its central portion passing over the drum and serving to transmit movement therefrom to the receptacle in either direction, a pair of switches for controlling rotation of the motor in either direction respectively, each of said switches having a tail member provided with an opening for the passage of the opposite end portions of the cable respectively, and buttons secured to such portions of the cable and operative by contact with the respective switch tails whereby to move such switches to open position.

44%. In combination with a furnace having a door, charging apparatus comprising a movable charge receiver, motor means for moving said receiver into the furnace, and means for preventing actuation of the motor except the furnace door he in open position.

$5, In combination a furnace having a door, manually actuable means for opening and shutting said door, a charge receiver, a motor for moving said charge receiver into and out of the furnace, switch means for controlling said motor, and means associated with the door actuating means for. preventing closing of the switch means to start the motor except the furnace door be in open position.

46. In combination, a furnace having a door, a. charge receiver movable into and out of the furnace, a motor for moving the receiver, a switch for controlling the motor, a slide bar having a lug normally operative to prevent closing of the switch, and means connecting said bar with the door whereby upon opening of the latter the lug is moved to permit closing of the switch.

a7. In combination with a furnace having a slidable charging door, a charge receptacle movable into and out of the furnace, power actuated means for moving said receptacle, a manually operable controlling device for said power actuated means, a manually movable eleanent for opening and closing the furnace door, and means for preventing actuation of the first-named manually operable device except when said manually movable element occupies a predetermined position.

48. In combination with a furnace having a door, a charge receptacle movable into and out of the furnace, a reversible electric motor for moving said receptacle, a switch board having a pair of motor controlling switches thereon, a bar slidably guided on said board and having a pair of lugs nor mally positioned to prevent closing of either switch, and a cable connecting said bar with the furnace door, said parts being so constructed and arranged that upon manipulation of the cable to open the furnace door, the lugs are so moved as to permit closing of either switch.

49. A furnace charging and discharging apparatus comprising, in combination a furnace having a door, a housing-constructed and arranged to hood the furnace door, a charge receiver therein, means for depositing a charge in said receiver, means for moving the loaded receiver into the furnace and for withdrawing it therefrom, a quenching tank, ,ineans for dumping the charge from the receiver directly into said tank, and automatic means for removing the material, after quenching, from the tank.

50. A furnace charging and discharging apparatus comprising in combination a heat insulated housing constructed and arranged to hood a furnace door, said housing having receiving and discharging openings in its walls, means normally closing said openings, a charge receiver normally positioned within the housing but movable into the furnace, means associated with the receiving opening for holding a charge for delivery into the receiver, means for moving the receiver into and out of the furnace, means for simultaneously opening the discharge opening and for dumping the receiver, means for guarding the receiver from drafts when such opening is opened, a quenching tank arranged to receive the charge from the discharge opening, and means for removing the quenched charge from the tank.

Signed by me at Taunton, Massachusetts, this eighteenth day of March 1922.

HARRY B. EATON.

Witnesses:

EDWIN I. Horn, B. E. BREWSTER. 

